I went poking around in the [R/V] last week, in some uncharted waters (for me), and came upon this totally awesome, rusted-out I-beam reaching skyward out of the ocean, a few hundred yards from dry land. This beam appears to be the last remnants of a old range marker, which was used to help ships navigate through the shipping channel to the port of Morehead City. Most importantly, it should be noted that when it was driven into the sand, it was on dry land.

Anyway, on my first voyage out to this spot, the weather was absolutely gorgeous! Sunny and 60’s. For me, the weather was a bit too nice, as I wanted the distant shoreline to be more obscured, and I didn’t want to have the tone of the beam compete with the density of the blue sky. Regardless, I made an exposure, with the intent of returning on the next stormy day.

A few days later, conditions were looking prime...rain, wind, gloom. Perfect. So, at low tide, we set sail once again, and patiently waited for the rain. And...we waited...and waited. Finally, after about two hours (and right before dark), bands of rain began to pass through, so I made this exposure, packed up, and headed back to shore before the Kraken emerged to feed at night.

Photographed with a Chamonix 45N-2 on Ilford Delta 100 sheet film.